Spring wheel for railroad vehicles



w. J. BEISEL SPRING WHEEL FOR RAILROAD VEHICLE Filed April 21, 1923 Y ,/W m m a MUM 1M I m 4 w m Patented Apr. 8, 1924}e ulnar ti'l'ATE WILLIAIM JAKO'IB BEISEL, OF PORT RICHMOND, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T BEISEL SPRING WHEEL CORPORATION, OF NEVJ YORK, N. 1., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SPRING WHEEL FOR RAILROAD VEHICLES.

Application filed. April 21, 1923. Serial No. 633,777.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J Binsnn, a citizen of the United States and a resident of Port Richmonchcounty of Rich- 6 niond State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring Wheels for Railroad Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to spring wheels 10 especially adapted for use on the trucks of railway rolling stock I such as passenger coaches. Such wheels must of course be so constructed as to satisfactorily stand the strains to which they are subjected in .use under very heavy loads without danger of breaking or giving way and it has been assumed that it will be impossible to produce a satisfactory spring wheel for the purpose because of its lack of the quality of perfect rigidity which was considered necessary. It is a well known fact howeverthat in many cases a slight yielding of parts will avoid breakage on the strains which would cause breakage if the parts were rigid and unyielding and it was therefore an error to assume without adequate trial that a spring wheel which will yield slightly on sudden strain will not be as strong and reliable as a solid. wheel and even stronger or more reliable. The wheel constituting the present invention embodies a novel construction which gives to it all of the de sirable characteristics as. to strength and ability to satisfactorily stand the strains of use and at the same time many advantages and desirable characteristics and qualities not possessed by a rigid wheel. Although a railway truck wheel running on railroad rails does not come in contact with and pass over irregularities in the road bed as often as do automobile wheels for instance tending to jar passengersin the vehicle but they do sometimes at crossings or because of defective rails or rail supports. Furthermore a slight yielding of truck wheels has other advantages in other respects since they reduce the wear on the rails and the brake shoe wear on the rim.

thus reducing the chancesfor the production of the annoying flat portions on the rim and prolonging the life of the wheel and railroad rails.

The novel features will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing: 7

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side View of thewheel embodying the invention partly in section and partly broken away, and

Figure 2 is a cross section on the line 22 looking in the direction of the arrow.

In the particular form of the invention shown for purposes of illustration the metal hub 10 has a cylindrical bore 11 in which the end portion 12 of the axle fits and is secured as in the usual way. The hub 10 has an integral radial circular flange 13 some distance from one end and has an outer cylindrical surface 1 1 from that flange to the other end and this cylindrical surface is of less diameter than that between the flange and the other end and thus the hub is thicker between the flange and other end as shown in Figure 2. A circular disk 15 having an outer diameter substantially the same as that of the flange 13 closely and slidably fits the outer surface of the cylindrical portion of the hub 14 so that it may move inwardly towards flange 13.

A. series of duplicate spokes 16 have inner end portions extending in radial planes fitting the surface of the cylindrical portion 14 of the hub between flange 13 and disk 15 and as shown they are of such thickness and number that their inner ends make contact in radial planes all the way around the hub having slightly tapered contact surfaces 17 at the extreme inner end. Just beyond theouter margin of the flange and disk'each spoke is curved laterally of the radial plane of its inner end to one side and then reversely curved back across that plane as indicated at 18 and 19. This curve is on a rather small radius and outwardly beyond the radial plane the curve has a much larger radius to the rim. For convenience of reference this form of spoke will be termed a sickle spoke or sickle m0 shaped spoke. In the form shown each spoke is composed of spring metal of substantially uniform width and uniform thickness from the inner, end to the rim and it will be observed that the outer end portion has an outline or general form of a.

foot the heel portion 20 being integral with the body of the spring and the toe portion 21 being made'as a separate part fitting the end of the heel portion.

In the particular form of the invention shown the rim 22 is formed in one integral piece of metal including the usual outer surface 23 which bears on the railroad rails and the marginal flange 24:. Its inner surface has a short cylindrical portion :25, an integral inwardly extending flange 25 and a cylindrical portion 27 extending from that flange a distance equal approximately to the width of the spokes. Beyond this cylindrical portion there is a shortcylindrical portion 28 of a larger diameter forming an outwardly facing shoulder 29. 1h circular metal disk 30 fits in the cylindrical portion 28 and the diameter of its inner surtace is approximately the same as that of the diameter of the flange 2G. The outer ends of the spokes lit the cylindrical portion 27 and close against the integral flange 26 and the disk 30 fits against their outer sides holding them in place. The inwardly facing cylindrical surface 27 of the rim is provided at intervals around the circumference corresponding to the number of spokes with slightly tapering depressions 31 and somewhat larger depressions 32 arranged in pairs and spaced longitudinally irom each other a short distance.

he heel portion 20 of each spoke has an outer face 20 which lits the cylindrical surface 27 and an outwardly extending projection 33 which hits in socket 31. At its for ward end the heel portion 20 of the spoke has its lower portion projecting beyond its upper portion with surfaces on trans-verse plane 34 from the inner portion part way to the outer portion 35 from that point longitudinally and the extreme end plane 36. The toe part 21 has an upper projecting portion fitting on and over the projecting por- "tion of the heel it being formed with similar transverse surfaces. At the edge where the planes 35 and 36 cross the material of the heel portion is removed to form a groove 37 on circular lines but which wipers from the side having disk 30 towards the other side of the rim and the toe portion 31 has agroove 38 formed inacorrcsponding position on transverse lines in the arcs of circles corresponding to those of the heel portion and similarly tapered so that the two grooves together makeup a tapered bore or opening circular in cross section. it will be noted by'reference to Figure 1 that the groove in the toe portion extends circularly for more than 1.80 in that portion so that a pin or bolt fitting in it could not be movedlaten ally but only endwise. The toe portion 21 of each spoke has in lowe" surface a depression or socket 39 matching the socket 32 in the cylindrical portion 27 of the rim and a key or filler block 40 fits in these openings crossingthe line of connection; between the toe and rim. Tapered bolts l1 pass through openings in disk 30 and through the openings formed by the grooves 37 and 3S the foot of the spoke through the openings 42 in the integral flange 26. Screw threaded nuts engage the outer ends of these bolts and by properly turning them the spoke may be rigidly clamped in position by the wedging action and the usual lock nut hf r: is used to prevent accidental release.

The inner radial end of each spoke has a pair of grooves 1-5 extending across them on opposite sides and these grooves are on the arcs of circles in cross section and taper from the side'in contact withthe integral flange 13 of the hub towards the other side. Tapering bolts 46 pass through openings 47 in integral flange 13 closely fitting in the grooves 41-5 of two adjacent spokes and passing through an o )ening 48 in disk 15. Screw threaded nuts 49 on the outer ends of these tapered bolts may be used to tighten the connection and they are held by lock nuts 50. The tapering arrangement of the bolts and grooves produce a wedging action. G11 the outer side towards the periphery of the wheel from grooves 45-45 but within the margin of the flange 13 each spoke has a pair of small grooves 51 on opposite sides and metal keys 52 having ribs corresponding to and fitting in said grooves of adjacent spokes till the space between the adjacent spokes on the outer side of the tapered pins 46 to the margin of the flange 13 and disk 15 whereby the bending leverage on the spoke is from the outer margin of the flange outwardly to the rim.

It will of course be understood that the size and strength of the spokes will be determined by the load which the wheel embodying them is designed to carry and will necessarily vary in accordance with the requirements of particular cases and that although the outer rim adapted to bear on the rails and the inner portion for connection to the spokes are shown as integral it will be understood that in the broader aspects this is not necessary. It will also be understood that although the specific embodiment of the invention is shown for purposes of illustration it is not limited to the details beyond what is indicated in the claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A spring wheel for railway trucks comprising in combination, a metal hub, a metal rim and a series of spring spokes having inner end portions in radial planes secured to the hub, having portions near said hub curved laterally of the planes of their inner ends and then reversely across said plane on a curve of large radius to the rim forming sickle shaped spokes, said rim having an integral inwardly projecting flangenear one edge and a cylindrical portion next to said flange having a width approximately as great as the width of the spokes with radial. depressions therein at intervals around the circumference, the outer ends of said spokes having surfaces fitting said cylindrical portion and against said flange each provided with aradial projection fitting in one of said depressions in said portion, a circular disk having an inner diameter equal to that of said flange with its outer edge fitting an inner surface of said rim and its side fitting the side of said spokes opposite the flange, and means for securing saiddisk, spoke ends and rim together including tapered bolts passing throughsaid disk and flange.

2. A spring wheel for railway trucks comprising in combination, a metal hub, a metal rim and a series of spring spokes having inner end portions in radial planes secured to the hub, havingportions near said hub curved laterally of the planes of their inner ends and then reversely across said plane on a curve of large radius to the rim forming sickle shaped spokes, said rim having an integral inwardly projecting flange near one edge and a cylindrical portion next to said flange having a width approximately as great as the width of the spokes with radial depressions therein at intervals around the circumference and a narrow cylindrical portion of larger diameter next to said first mentioned cylindrical portion, the outer ends of said spokes having surfaces fitting said cylindrical portion and against said flange each provided with a radial projection fitting in one of said depressions in said portion, a circular disk having an inner diameter equal to that of said flange with its outer edge fitting said narrow cylindrical surface and its side fitting the side of said spokes opposite the flange, and means for securing said disk, spoke ends and rim together including tapered bolts passing through said disk and flange.

3. A spring wheel for railway trucks com prising in combination, a metal hub, a metal rim and a series of spring spokes having inner end portions in radial planes secured to the hub, having portions near said hub curved laterally of the planes of their inner ends and then reversely across said plane on a curve of large radius to the rim forming sickle shaped spokes, said rim having an integral inwardly projecting flange near one edge and a cylindrical portion next to said] flange having a width approximately as great as the width of the spokes with radial depressions therein at intervals around the circumference, two for each spoke, the outer end portion of each spoke fitting said cylindrical portion and having the general shape of a foot with the heel portion integral with the spoke and the toe portion separate the heel portion being provided with a radial projection fitting in one of said sockets and having at its end a part next to the rim projecting beyond the inner portion with transverse tapering groove on circular lines in section at its end edge, and the toe portion having an outer surface so formed as to fit said cylindrical portion of the rim and the projecting end portion of the heel portion and being provided with a depression in its surface of contact with the rim corresponding to a depression in the rim and with a transverse tapering groove on circular lines in section constituting continuations of the lines of said groove in the heel portion, looking pins in the corresponding depressions in said toes and rim, tapered bolts circular in section passing through said flange and disk of the rim and through the openings formed by the matching grooves of the heel and toe portion of the spokes and screw threaded nuts with lock washers on the smaller ends of said bolts for maintaining tight connection between the parts.

l. A spring wheel for railway trucks comprising in combination a metal hub having cylindrical outer surface with an integral circular radial flange near one end, a circular disk having the same outer diameter as said flange slidable longitudinally on said hub towards said flange, ametal rim having a cylindrical inner surface with an integral 7 inner ends in contact in radial planes around said hub between its flange and disk and with their outer ends fitting the inner surface of said rim between its flange and disk and having interlocking projections and depressions, means for rigidly securing the parts at the rim including tapering bolts passing through said flange and disk and longitudinally engaging the ends of the spokes between them and means for rigidly connecting the parts at the hub including tapering bolts passing through its flange and. disk between and engaging adjacent spokes.

5. A spring wheel for railway trucks comprising in combination a metal hub having a cylindrical outer surface with an integral circular radial flange near one end, a circular disk having the same outer diameter as said flange slidable longitudinally on said hub towards said flange, a metal rim, a series of spring spokes sickle shaped longitudinally secured at their outer ends to the rim and having inner end portions slightly tapered on radial planes in contact with each other successively around the hub closely adjacent to its flange the facing surfaces of adjacent spokes a short distance outwardly from the contact portion being provided with corresponding facing transversely arranged slightly tapering grooves on circular lines in section, a tapering bolt passing through said flange and disk fitting and partly filling the grooves of each two adjacent spokes and a screw threaded nut on the smaller end of said bolt for rigidly connecting the inner ends of the spokes together and to the hub.

6. A spring wheel for railway trucks comprising in combination a metal hub having a cylindrical outer surface with an integral circular radial flange near one end, a circular disk having the same outer diameter as said flange slidable longitudinally on said hub towards said flange, a metal rim, a series of spring spokes sickle shaped longitudinally secured at their outer ends to the rim and having inner end portions slightly tapered on radial planes in contact with each other successively around the hub closely adjacent to its flange the facing surfaces of adjacent spokes a short distance outwardly from the contact portion being provided with corresponding facing transversely arranged slightly tapering grooves on circular lines in section and much smaller but correspondingly arranged grooves just within the margin of said flange, a tapering bolt passing through said flange and disk fitting and partly filling the first mentioned grooves of each two adjacent spokes and a screw threaded nut on the smaller end of said bolt for rigidly connecting the inner ends of the spokes together and to the hub, a key between each pair of adjacent spokes fitting and filling the space between from the tapered bolt to the margin of the flange and having side ribs fitting in said smaller grooves.

In testimony signature.

WILLIAM JAKOB BEISEL.

whereof I hereunto afiix my 

